Hiking
Located just a couple of miles from the Hampshire campus, the Holyoke Range is a 7 miles ridge that stretches from Hadley to Belchertown. Trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cross country skiing are posted at Notch Visitor Center.
Mount Metacomet -Monadnock Trail
With an entrance in Belchertown, this trail stretches all the way to New Hampshire.
Mount Tom
Mount Tom is part of the Holyoke Range of mountains called the Seven Sisters. With a beautiful view of the Pioneer Valley, Mount Tom has 20 miles of hiking and walking trails along with picnic areas. Lake Bray, located within the reservation, is perfect for canoeing and ice skating during the winter months!
About 15 miles northwest of Amherst in South Deerfield, Mount Sugarloaf offers hiking and picnicking with a great view of the Connecticut River Valley.
Click here for more state parks that offer hiking trails.
For a very comprehensive guide for day hikes, check http://users.crocker.com/~vhoyt/index.html.
Biking
Stretching from Northampton to Amherst, the Norwottuck Rail Trail is a 10 mile path that follows the old Boston and Maine Railroad.
Located just a couple of miles from Hampshire, the Holyoke Range is a 7 miles ridge that stretches from Hadley to Belchertown. Check the Notch Visitor Center for trails available for biking.
Camping
DAR State Forest was established in 1929 when the Daughters of the American Revolution donated more than 1,000 acres to the Commonwealth. It has since expanded and includes campgrounds, a small private beach, and a number of trails for hiking. During the winter trails are open for skiers and snowmobiles.
Parks
Located in the Florence section of Northampton, Look Park features miniature golf, bumper boats, a petting zoo and much more. Also located in Look Park is the Pines Theater, an outdoor amphitheater that hosts such acts as the Indigo Girls.
The park has a merry-go-round, children's museum, the Volleyball Hall of Fame and an exhibit about the paper industry in Holyoke all within its grounds. Picnic sites are also available and overlook three of Holyoke's historic canals.
